Portland to Camden to Rangeley

We could have easily enjoyed the rest of the summer in Acadia (really we do recommend a long stay) but our car was repaired and we were ready to have it back.  Fondly, we said goodbye to Acadia as the rain started pouring down.  The rain made for a long trip to Portland, but we arrived in time to pick up the car before closing time.  We spent two nights in a nice commercial campground south of Portland in Kennebunkport. That gave us time to get all our laundry done after so much fun in Acadia and a chance to go back one more time to the Maine Diner.  Yes, the lobster pie really was that good.

 

Camden Harbor from Mount Battie

 

Sunday morning we left Kennebunkport and headed north along the coast on Highway 1 to Rockport and Camden with a quick stop at L.L. Bean.  The ‘flagship’ store is located in Freeport and we had to visit the place we have helped keep in business so long.  Really there is a whole complex of stores – one for camping gear, one for clothes, one for fishing and hunting gear.  They just needed a campground and we could have spent days ‘hiking’ through the stores. 

 

Downtown Camden

 

We escaped without spending too much money and arrived at Camden Hills State Park a few hours later.  The park is located on the shores of Penobscot Bay and overlooks Camden.  We enjoyed a leisurely 3 days in the area hiking the high cliffs and ledges along the coastline and strolling the picturesque towns of nearby Rockport and Camden. 

Civilian Conservation Corp tower at Camden Hills State Park

Those CCC boys built so many great structures in our parks.

 

Ships and ducks at Camden Harbor

Getting our car scrape repaired slowed us down a bit and because we had plans in Vermont for Labor Day, we decided not to go into New Brunswick and Nova Scotia this trip. It would have made things too rushed and we have gotten accustomed to a slower traveling pace.  Maybe next year we will travel across Canada?

 

Cascade Gorge Falls near Rangeley Lake State Park

 

Instead of Canada, we decided we would go to northern Maine for a week to experience a different part of the state.  Originally we thought visiting Baxter State Park, the site of Mt. Katadin and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, would be a must.  But we discovered that Baxter State Park was not dog friendly at all.  Dogs are not even allowed in the park.  Rangeley Lake State Park, about 220  Appalachian Trail miles from Mt. Katadin, was dog friendly and had several sections of the AT nearby that we could hike.  So we left the mountains and the sea and headed for the mountains and the lakes.

 

High mountain pass with view of Lake Mooselookmeguntic

 

Nestled in the heart of western Maine’s mountains and surrounded by five large lakes (my favorite being Lake Mooselookmeguntic, what a name!) Rangeley Lake State Park is right in the middle of some great country.  We hiked to nearby peaks with gorgeous views of those five lakes. Although moose had been sighted in the park just before we arrived, we had no luck.  But we did hear loons at dusk.  

Piazza Rock just off the Appalachian Trail

Hiking on the AT again...

It was great to be hiking again along the AT after almost a month.  We hiked two different sections and encountered several ‘thru-hikers’ that were about to get their 2,000 mile patch.  And they would be finishing the AT in the next 2 – 4 weeks depending on their pace.  Can you really imagine hiking 2,000 miles?  David and I sure have a better picture of it now and it makes our 50 – 60 mile backpacking trips seem like a walk around the block.

 

Bunchberry

 

David’s Stats:

Days Hiked   5

Rain Days    1

Total Miles Hiked   23.94

Ave. Miles per Day      4.79
Total Elevation Gain       5,934
Ave. Elevation Gain per day  1,187